Evaluating The 2012 Texas Longhorns Recruiting Class: Offensive Line

They can’t switch positions, or help with special teams, and they don’t like to transfer.

This describes every girlfriend I had in college.

Seriously—nice writeup, Scip. Good to see we’re back on track.

We love ‘Classes of Beef’ because its fun to say! Can’t we call this a Class of Beef too? Between the quality guys we got on the OL and DL there’s going be some fist fights at the dinner table.

“Content to redshirt, eat, clog toilets with fecal pythons, and stick around for five years while true freshmen pass them on the depth chart”

That’s so good.

Speaking of guys getting passed on the depth chart by freshman, but tempered by the fact that it often hard to judge OL until they have been in the program for a few years, are there guys already on the roster who look good to contribute in the coming years even though in some cases they may have been passed by more precocious younger guys?

i love it when a frustrated defensive end takes a swing at a tackle who has just schooled him.

offensive line has always been my favorite position because it is where a good team begins. the words here are so good to read. we’re getting the cart behind the horse again.

scip, fix kennedy estelle’s section header, please.

parlin -
 
Thanks! I can read your code though: you just don’t want me writing more bad poetry.
 
Ricky -
 
Enjoyment of saying CLASS OF BEEF is probably its primary appeal. Not sure I follow your second question completely, but maybe Thomas Ashcraft? There aren’t many possibilities.
 
redfoot -
 
Gracias.
 
yesseree -
 
Fixed.

Thanks Scipio. I guess I was hoping we couldn’t complete write off guys like Ashcraft and Kelley as contributors just yet…or Porter for that matter. What’s your prognosis on Greenlea and Hutchins? I thought the Asset said Searels liked Hutchins. No need to mention Doyle, I am sure he will be starting left tackle by the Fall.

“Criticisms like "marginal athlete with T-Rex arms", "as inflexible as Liberty University’s student code", and "feet like Tom Dempsey" are not where you’d like to be.”

Didn’t think I’d get thru the rest of the article after reading about student codes and dino arms . . . glad I wasn’t reading this at work. You make this stuff educational and fun. Why didn’t I have you when I was in seventh grade?

Hughes is the son of retired military and the frequency with which "father was a career master sergeant" and athletic success are linked can’t be coincidental.

It may not be coincidental, but I have to admit I’m living proof that it also isn’t a rule.

It’s spelled Paul Reiser I believe. Which reminds me, why did we as a nation go through a 6 year period in which we thought Helen Hunt was hot?

Well done, but wern’t the Internet experts saying the same thing about the Walters/Porter/Ashcraft/Kelly class in 2009? How does this class compare? I know hindsight is 20/20 but I seem to remember everyone singing the praises of a great OL haul that year.

you may be the funniest fucking person on the internet. take that, carrot top.

Now that we have evidently switched our attention to the “Big Uglies”, championships can’t be far behind!

Also the Allen/Hix/Huey/McGaskey class in 2007. Seems like we periodically have these “great” OL classes then four years later Baylor has a lineman picked in the 1st round and I can barely remember the last time a Texas OL player was even drafted. What is different now? Kinda like August practice reports, the sun is always shining.

I hope you are right this time.

Curtis Riser’s highlights are almost comical. Like The Blind Side quality. I fully expected Phil Fulmer to say: “I have to have this guy.”

Red shirt all of the freshman. For the love of God.

Literally LOL.

“I want a mesomorphic 6-7 chunky power forward with sweet feet who can jump rope like Apollo Creed, touch their palms to the ground with their legs straight, and can sit deep like a sumo reading the funny papers while shooing DEs away from the QB like King Kong swatting bi-planes. "

Nicely done…AGAIN!

I’m all in on Searles. This is so much better than the Mack-Davis-McWhorter-Mad Dog 4-headed cluster of laziness, poor evaluation and ridiculously horrible development. Is there a position on the field that is more development intensive than O line?

Just an awesome writeup. Thanks a ton for it. I might be more excited about our O line than I am about our defense. Mainly, because it has been so bad for 4 years and now there is a glimmer of hope that those dark days are behind us.

Have there been many kids that were widely regarded as OTs that moved to OG with success? Or is the skillset too disparate? Walters comes to mind, but a lot of that was injury related I think.

Sweet write-up. Glad that you have started with the offensive line. It appears that the coaching staff has also made this area of focus. Very excited about the incoming class. I know that all-star games are a bad place to gauge lineman, but I was a little disappointed that Estelle kept getting burned on the edge. Reassured by your evaluation and very interested to hear of the lineman’s development over the next two years.

In response to Bartoncreek I have heard that Westerman was moved from tackle to backup offensive guard. So glad that we did not end up with an overmanaged, coached up player with a pair of earrings. Love me some mean streak!

Alan: Searels is the difference now.

Scip – thanks for the write-up. Good to see you started with the trenches! I have faith with this group.

I’ve had the same question as Alan. My only response is that with real position coaching and a legitimate scheme, these guys should develop better than those in th past. At least that’s mt hope.

Scipio – regarding redshirting, it seems like we are in pretty good shape in terms of starters and primary backup at OT. Plus Greenlea adds possible depth. Worth wasting a redshirt on a 5th string OT ?

Great write up as usual…Scip is back in the game!

Searels is getting it done. He is recruiting ability and frame rather than top OL that “could” work out. He is looking for what he wants in a position. He has a system and that system is working itself into place. The next 2 years will show what he can do.

Estelle needs to shirt but has serious upside at OT. Love the potential of this kid. Riser and Hughes will be nasty at OG. Great ability and ideal size with athleticism. Hawkins is key to this class and I don’t think anyone will argue this. He allows the OL to take shape in the mold it needs to be in. Cochran, Walters, Espy, Hopkins, Hawkins…All at their natural position. I like the sound of that. If McFarland and Grant step it up, we are going to pound the rock down everyone’s throats next season. Bring it!

cousin, we may not recognize these guys in two or three years. those nebraska behemoths we’ve been talking about didn’t even resemble the dopey farm boys that had walked into that meat-grinder years earlier. what we are doing is we are developing our own meat-grinder here.

i’m betting kennedy and camrhon are bookends one of these days not too remote.

Alan writes:

“wern’t the Internet experts saying the same thing about the Walters/Porter/Ashcraft/Kelly class in 2009? "
“I hope you are right this time.”

All internet experts are clones. My excitement about past classes has often (and irritatingly) been dampened by ScipioTex’s evaluations. And he turned out to be right. This is the first time I’ve seen such a general positive evaluation. I’m pumped.

Scipio,
What would you say happened with Tray Allen? Is it just a case of a guy dominating in high school and not adapting to improved college opposition? What? I recall an article when he was recruited saying he might be capable of going straight to the pros.

I’m not knocking the guy. I just wonder what you think now that his college career is over.

Duderino said: February 2nd, 2012 at 9:22 pm
Alan: Searels is the difference now.

And Wylie

Damn. are NOT clones. At least, I think they’re not clones. I’ve never seen any of them.

Scip, the plan is coming together isn’t it? Reminds me of the 1991 Cowboys.

@Alan,—-Hix and Huey are both in the NFL. For the life of me, I don’t know why, but they are. Chris Hall lost almost a hundred pounds and was last seen in a jungle somewhere reading Veggie Tales to iguanas.

Alan –
 
Forgive me if I lay into you a little, amigo.
 
“What is different now? Kinda like August practice reports, the sun is always shining.”
 
The WHOLE POINT of my post is what’s different now. Read it. Let’s start with the fact we have a new OC and OL coach. That’s pretty basic information.
 
I’m not responsible for “every internet recruiting guru.” A portion of my post is a critique of them. And bad development is bad development.
 
Your post amounts to “at some point in time, others said positive things about a subject and those things didn’t happen, and now you’re saying something, so you know…..doubts.”
 
Alan, let’s try this: look at pictures of all four of our OL signees. What trait do they have in common that we’ve never seen in a Texas OL class? Ever. I will let you guess every day between now and Juneteenth.
 
Newy -
 
I would love to ‘shirt all of them, but Hawkins probably gotta play.
 
Bartoncreek -
 
There are plenty of OTs who can move inside successfully, few guards can move out. The biggest issue a tall OT has when moving inside is getting low enough in the run game to take on squatty DTs. The more pass happy your team is, generally easier the adjustment.
 
Cousin It -
 
I share your concern about Estelle, but I’d like to see that match up again in three years. Searels’ approach asks us to take the long view. And All-Star games don’t have much of a team concept in protection schemes.
 
Horncasting -
 
Unless I’m misunderstanding your question, you redshirt people to see what they’ll become. Texas fans need to break out of this “if an OL can’t play as a freshman, he’s a waste” mode. Freshmen should be 5th string. That’s a sign of program health.
 
STLaw -
 
Thanks! Though I think Hughes is an OT all the way.

RomaVicta -
 
Thanks. I’m consistently amused that the change in coaching staff has changed my perception to that of rosy-eyed optimist and Barking Carnival is now a homer blog. I think some people assume any stance that isn’t reflexively negative is unsophisticated? I dunno. I see it more simply: I have criticisms. Many of those criticisms addressed. I applaud and move on. Isn’t that how it should go?
 
Honestly, I really didn’t like Tray Allen when I saw him in an actual high school game. I vaguely remember the NFL out of high school nonsense. Insane.
 
Allen just didn’t like football once it became hard. Never had a true position either.
 
Saltshaker -
 
I’d kill for the Cowboys OL circa ’95.

Son of a career NCO doesn’t always pan out. Ask Calvin Howell and Greg Madden.

Great write-up Scip. Hilarious read as always.

Almost lost my H-E-B brand soda on the “between now and Juneteeth” line in the comments.

Nice going, Scipio.

Agreed on the tackles to guards preference in most cases. They can also be kicked inside if the need arises. I’ve felt for a while that if things don’t work out at tackle, Kennedy Estelle would make for a quality NFL guard down the road. Should he turn out to be a dominant force on the outside, all the better.

“Alan, let’s try this: look at pictures of all four of our OL signees. What trait do they have in common that we’ve never seen in a Texas OL class? Ever. I will let you guess every day between now and Juneteenth.”

Uh, I’ll take pigmentation for $500, Alex.

Seriously, thanks for pointing that out. It was maybe the most serious flaw with McWhorter that should have been addressed. Stepping down now, putting away soap box.

“feet like Tom Dempsey’s” isn’t getting enough love. Maybe it’s a generational thing.

Hopefully we can find some WRs and TEs that don’t have his hands.

Oh, and great blog, as always. I can hardly wait for the rest, especially Santos. The guy’s a winning lottery ticket you were too drunk to remember buying late one night but find in your jeans months later, IMO.

“CrazyJoeDavola said: February 3rd, 2012 at 12:17 am

"feet like Tom Dempsey’s" isn’t getting enough love. Maybe it’s a generational thing.

Hopefully we can find some WRs and TEs that don’t have his hands."

That’s cold, Dude! But funny as hell.

Seeing as how you’re such a Santos fan, I think you’ll like this link:

http://www.yahoosportsradio.com/shows/david-nuno/dalton-santon-been-a-texas-fan-since-i-was-a-kid-16266/

Scip-

You really think Hughes lands at OT? I can see that too but something tells me he stays at OG. Is there something I’m missing about him that you see?

STLaw -
 
I think you’re missing that he plays tackle.

Alan,

Scip made reference in the first sentence of the post to “pet theories.” One of his core criticisms of Greg Davis was his lack of a coherent offensive system. That offense was a chaotic, pass-heavy hodge-podge of borrowed pieces from many systems with plays called in an incredibly predictable way wrt down and distance that required super-human improvisational skills from the QB.

One of the primary consequences was no clear identity as to the types of players recruited at each position. As Scip often complained, what does a Texas OT look like? a Texas OG? Too often, we signed highly rated OL who would commit early with little apparent attention to how they would fit together as component parts. We did not go after players with position-specific strengths to the degree that we should have. As a result, we got the bunch of natural guards that left us with sub-standard OT play in 2010 and 2011 that severely limited our offense.

Note the position-specific qualities Scip emphasizes in his post in this class of OL. We now have a coherent offensive philosophy and Searels is recruiting players to fit into well-defined roles. That is the difference between this class of OL and the ones you mention.

Scipio-yeah you missed my point which was that I think our depth at OT this year could be good enough to redshift Estelle and Hughes. Not definite, but the bodies and potential are there.

Really feels like this has been the position where we’ve tried to find ready made products rather than kids who can develop. Also, we defined “ready-made” as: capable of learning and playing at a passable level in pass-protection for 50 snaps a game.

In regards to moving OT’s to guard: The only trouble when you recruit all 6’4"+ dudes and move the slower ones inside, is that you may find yourself in a position like OU is in now where plays like Inside Zone or Power, that require guys who can move piles, can stall out if the DL easily gets under your guards’ pads.

For that reason I like to take a thicker, mobile guard in every class. Guys like Mason Walters who can maul and pile drive at 6’6" aren’t the rule for failed OT projects.

ScipioTex

Excellent and insightful evaluation — a valuable look under the hood. Thank you for properly setting the expectations of that portion of the fan base that hopes or expects the 3 freshmen OL to start and contribute in 2012. Like you, I also hope that we can give these guys a redshirt year plus 1 or 2 additional years for development.

You rightly pointed out that one can quickly assess the health and depth of a football program by the number of true freshmen that are starters.

Great class. The warship is beginning to gather speed.

t1climb1
“Which reminds me, why did we as a nation go through a 6 year period in which we thought Helen Hunt was hot?”
I remember two reasons
Scipio. Thanks for a great analysis that’s as creative as it is informative.

Thanks for the summary, Scip. I had somehow forgotten how good this OL class is.

Guys, please excuse me if this take is uninformed. I’m at home sick today. My one or two sick days per year and here I am – twisted, yes?

STLaw, in the film, you probably see a smallish guy playing outside of Hughes, right? It looks to me as if Hughes is playing tackle and the smaller fellow is pulled in tight. Hughes is doing the heavy lifting.

Scipio, the new staff has almost turned you into an optimist, or, maybe optimism is the new reality.

Great write up.

Hook ’em!

By the way, Scipio, wasn’t it Studdard that was a high school defensive lineman that we converted to O-line. He was amazing and very aggressive.

Hook ’em!

Haven’t finished reading but had to give props for the line “clogging toilets with fecal pythons”. Excellent imagery.

Agreed: great write-up, great class, and how can you not like a set of Dempsey references.

Hawkins this spring is huge. Earning meaningful playing time will be something to watch closely. The freshman will hopefully redshirt, but wouldn’t be surprised if one is forced into action.

Didn’t King Kong usually miss the bi-planes?

Your unbridled optimism and cinematic metaphors shall not go unchecked!

Great write-up otherwise. Love this class.

Finally, an OL plan that harnesses 1980′s spreadsheet technology!

Nick Zajicek has died of dysentery.

My only complaint is that you didn’t put quotation marks around the word “comedian” before the name Paul Reiser.

Thanks for the write-up. Good stuff.

Excellent article. Thanks.

“Content to redshirt, eat, clog toilets with fecal pythons, and stick around for five years while true freshmen pass them on the depth chart"

There is no better description of my daughter’s (ex)-fiance out there. A 2nd stringer who quickly evolved into a couch. That is a statement I’ll treasure every time his name comes up.

I just have so much more confidence that more guys will pan out, that ceilings will be reached than I had before. The coaching staff here is second to none IMO and its going to become more evident all the time.

Keeping them together long enough to reap this harvest will become the issue because I think starting in 2013 we have another 5 year run setting up and Mack knows it.

I have never seen HS footage of OTs that good in space. Estelle and Hughes are both athletes. Hughes even had highlights of blocking on WR screens. Nasty, nasty athleticism. Estelle pulled and pulled and found guys. It would have been nice to watch an actual game to see his hit rate pulling, but his mobility jumps off the screen.

I also will agree with the comments about moving 6"5"+ OTs inside. To move a DT, you have to stay low and it is hard to do so when you are that tall. I think that is why Riser looks so much better drive blocking in HS. He’s shorter.

The flip side of that is what if you had a “short” (6-6’3") tackle that had a good base and the mobility to pass protect? What there be other problems?

1972. Jerry Sisemore.
1977. David Studdard.
1983. Doug Dawson.
1998. Jay Humphrey.
2005. Will Allen.

I eagerly anticipate more names in this list soon.

Monahorns:
OT’s benefit tremendously from being able to deliver blows to pass-rushers with their arms before the pass-rushers can get in and get their own hands on the OT.
Imagine the bully with his hand on the forehead of the flailing nerd.
Once someone like Jeffcoat gets their hands on you it’s over, having a longer reach is invaluable.

Exactly on point, Nickel. Any such shorter tackle would likely need an abnormally long wingspan or perfect play. I think it’s easier for coaches to find giants that can stay low, but that’s not a simple feat either. I wish Searels all the best in his objective.

Searels is awesome. Not only did he nail this class – he apparently has already built great relationships with several of the top targets in the 2013 class and did an excellent job with East Texas in general. Apparently Searels was instrumental in the Overstreet and Santos offers.

Great write-up, Scipio. If we can get back to back classes of 4 solid OL targets, we will be in for some great years ahead.

Great write up. Searels now embodies the soul of this team. ’Bout to get real nasty.

Also, quite the compliment you chose a pic I posted in the Searels Devotional post last season.

Glad I could be of service.

http://www.burntorangenation.com/2011/11/6/2541577/sunday-morning-devotional-coach-stacy-searels

I think a lot of negative types like this site and others for speaking the truth. And then when the truth doesn’t reflect their pessimism, they whine about it. Common problem amongst Texas folks unfortunately. I think you’re hitting the nail right on the head. HARD to complain about this OL class. It’s basically perfect. We even had to turn down John Michael Mcgee to keep it as such, and he is going to try to punish us for it over the next few years. I DO thing that you’re a little reserved regarding Gray and Brewer compared to what I think they are, but that’s nitpickin and called a difference in opinion.

Basically 5-7 is over. Greg Davis is gone. The negatives need to move on to politics or something. Pessimism and jealous is a waste of the human spirit.

Oh, and I really liked Riser as our lone guard this year. His 15 yard pancake was lovely.

Awesome pic, Stampede. I think one of my fellow bloggers snatched it from the SB Nation warehouse. Hope you don’t mind.
 
Balltastic -
 
I think you nailed it on natural pessimism vs. criticism. When my tone changes as I see real systemic progress, the reflexively negative feel betrayed since I’m not feeding the monster.
 
I don’t think I’m reserved on Gray at all.
 
Riser is exactly what I want in a guard take. I just don’t want to see us taking interior OL projects. It’s self-defeating.

This was the most entertaining write-up I’ve read in a long time. Your analysis is great, but the delivery was near perfection. Can’t wait for the next one.

Scip – Mind? You are kidding I hope. It’s public. And goes right to the point. We might arguably look back and decide that Searels is Mack’s best hire…ever.

Did you listen to his congratulating Jake in his commitment teleconference? All I heard was “get a rope” and “beef is for dinner”.

Hook ’em.

Assume afoletes and Wr’s will be combined?

Scipio – just for the record, I think you are the best. I can’t count how many times I have forwarded your commentaries to others. I am thrilled (and somewhat incredulous) that I don’t have to pay $$ to read what you have to say.

My post was more of a statement of general frustration – not directed at you – as to how over the past several years, things always seem to be changing for the better then they don’t. Chizik was supposed to be the answer at DC until the 2006 defense was horrible despite having several future NFL players as DB’s. Then Muschamp was supposed to be the difference and frankly his 2010 defense left a lot to be desired. And every August the practice reports (not yours, necessarily) speak to a new attitude, etc.

I am thrilled with the signing class in general and the OL class in particular. I hope everyone is right about Searles and Wylie. I guess we’ll see over the next couple of years how all this pans out.

“I just don’t want to see us taking interior OL projects. It’s self-defeating.”

You meant self-defecating, right … Oh wait, same thing!

The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse!

Could have swore I read somewhere that Hughes was supposed to lose weight and increase speed…fitting him more for an OG. Honestly, I don’t care where the kid plays because he is nasty with a mean streak. I just want him on the field by 2013

Please note the first 2 coaches out of the tunnel for pregame warmup are Searels and Davis.
After Ga and Ala departure, they are here to kick and take.

Sip said – There are plenty of OTs who can move inside successfully, few guards can move out. The biggest issue a tall OT has when moving inside is getting low enough in the run game to take on squatty DTs. The more pass happy your team is, generally easier the adjustment.

Mona said – The flip side of that is what if you had a "short" (6-6’3″) tackle that had a good base and the mobility to pass protect? What there be other problems?

Dawson used to tell me that he could have been an AA at tackle if he had played the position. Although the comment was kind of cocky, I tend to agree with the sentiment. It helps to have long arms at tackle so DEs can’t get into the body. However, the most important traits are still strength, tenacity, athleticism, and technique. If you can block, you can block. Caveat – That doesn’t mean that players don’t perform better at their ideal position though.

My bad Scip, just reread your comments on Gray. I see that you were pointing out others misgivings and not your own. I just think he could be a workhorse and dominate from day one. He and his pops are just glad they don’t have to.

Interesting comment about where DeSoto played Curtis. A friend of mine who is an offensive line coach in college doesn’t want anything other than high school tackles. Basic reason is he has found most high school guards and centers aren’t athletic enough to make that switch.
We see the trend all the time where kids get moved inside when they get to college and it is the same in the NFL.

Hughes is the plum in this class in my mind and for some reason most people don’t focus on him. Kid has huge upside and I have been told has a great sense for the position.

In regards to Estelle’s struggle in the all-star game those things are about as accurate a judge of how a kid projects as the pro bowl. You take a kid who really hasn’t been playing football for several weeks, run him through a week of practice, and then set him on an island to pass block the best rushers he has ever seen. Yeah, there is a recipe for success if I have ever heard of one.

There is a very good reason why it benefits most offensive linemen to red-shirt and it isn’t all about gaining strength or getting used to living away from home.